Alternative Names

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

White blood cells called lymphocytes are found in lymph tissues. They help prevent infections. Most lymphomas start in a type of white blood cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells.

For most patients, the cause of this cancer is unknown. However, lymphomas may develop in people with weakened immune systems. For example, the risk of lymphoma increases after an organ transplant or in people with HIV infection.

There are many different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). It is grouped according to how fast the cancer spreads.

The cancer may be low grade (slow growing), intermediate grade, or high grade (fast growing). Burkitt's lymphoma is an example of a high-grade lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is a low-grade lymphoma

The cancer is further grouped by how the cells look under the microscope, for example, if there are certain proteins or genetic markers present.

According to the American Cancer Society, a person has a 1 in 50 chance of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. NHL most often affects adults. However, children can get some forms of lymphoma. You are more likely to get lymphoma if you have a weakened immune system or have had an organ transplant.

This type of cancer is slightly more common in men than in women.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on what area of the body is affected by the cancer and how fast the cancer is growing.

Symptoms may include:

Night sweats (soaking the bedsheets and pajamas even though the room temperature is not too hot)

If tests reveal you do have cancer, additional tests will be done to see if it has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide future treatment and follow-up and gives you some idea of what to expect in the future.

Treatment

Treatment depends on:

The type of lymphoma

The stage of the cancer when you are first diagnosed

Your age and overall health

Symptoms, including weight loss, fever, and night sweats

Common treatments:

Radiation therapy may be used for disease that is confined to one body area.

Chemotherapy is the main type of treatment. Most often,multiple different drugs are used in combination together.

Another drug, called rituximab (Rituxan), is often used to treat B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Radioimmunotherapy may be used in some cases. This involves linking a radioactive substance to an antibody that targets the cancerous cells and injecting the substance into the body.

People with lymphoma that returns after treatment or does not respond to treatment may receive high-dose chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant (using stem cells from yourself).

Additional treatments depend on other symptoms. They may include:

Transfusion of blood products, such as platelets or red blood cells

Antibiotics to fight infection, especially if a fever occurs

During treatment, you and your health care team may need to manage other concerns. See also:

Support Groups

Expectations (prognosis)

Low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma usually cannot be cured by chemotherapy alone. However, the low-grade form of this cancer progresses slowly, and it may take many years before the disease gets worse or even requires any treatment.

Chemotherapy can often cure many types of high-grade lymphoma. However, if the cancer does not respond to chemotherapy drugs, the disease can cause rapid death.